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B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News |
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Ogbeh demands end to emergency rule
THE National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Audu Ogbeh, yesterday lent his voice to the growing calls for an end to emergency rule in Plateau State.
The party's first national chairman, Chief Solomon Lar, and the state's chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had recently made similar calls.
The emergency rule was imposed by President Olusegun Obasanjo on May 18, 2004 to arrest the declining insecurity in the state. It was to be for six months at the first instance, which ends on November 18.
Ogbeh spoke in Jos, the State capital, during a ceremony to receive some politicians who had earlier left the party.
In his speech, the national chairman called for an end to the emergency rule in Plateau State.
Ogbeh noted that emergency rule was imposed on the state five months ago to arrest the decline in security therein. He added that the conditions that led to the emergency rule no longer exist as peace has been fully restored.
He also praised the State administrator, Maj. Gen. Chris Alli, for doing a good job of restoring peace to the state.
The PDP chairman said: "There was anxiety in the state, which led to the declaration of a state of emergency. I want you all to recognise today that the existence of the state of emergency in Plateau is an embarrassment to everyone of us.
He continued: "Some may say it serves the governor right. Some may say we told you so. Some may say we have been vindicated.
"That is all very nice. But Plateau State and the North-Central zone have been embarrassed. Why should it be in Plateau State, out of the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)?"
Ogbeh noted that the state had performed excellently in the service to the nation, querying: "How many of your people died in the wars? How many of your people died in the Congo, Tanzania, Lebanon wars? General Yakubu Gowon served this country for nine years. But where is he now? He has no money today."
The PDP chairman apologised to those who left the party in annoyance to forgive its leaders for their possible acts of omission and commission.
The returnee politicians include former Sports Minister Damishi Sango who had joined the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Air Commodore Jonah David Jang (rtd), Mr. Philemon Dewang and Mr. Amos Gizo.
Among those at the occasion were Lar, Ambassadors Yahaya Kwande, Fidelis Tapgun, the PDP state chairman, Mr. Maidchibi Vwarji, National Secretary of PDP, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, Chief Joshua Dariye's Deputy, Chief Michael Botmang, the suspended Speaker and other members of the House and Mrs. Josephine Anenih.
The emergency rule was imposed by President Olusegun Obasanjo following a long-drawn ethnic and religious strife in the state that had claimed hundreds of lives and had begun to spill into neighbouring states.
The President suspended the state governor, Joshua Chibi Dariye, and the state House of Assembly. He then appointed Gen. Alli for an initial period of six months. Although Dariye currently has some moral crisis to resolve over his alleged arrest in the United Kingdom over financial matters, key members of the party in the state have called for an end to the emergency rule.
The PDP's foundation National Chairman, Chief Solomon Lar, and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Plateau chapter, recently echoed similar sentiments.
Lar faulted the Code of Conduct Tribunal, which is seeking to try Dariye for alleged false declaration of assets. The CAN urged Obasanjo to follow the constitution to the letter by lifting the state of emergency imposed on the state.
The religious body said that this was necessary as the state was already anticipating the return to democracy, adding that whatever government was going to do, it should follow the same constitution that it had invoked in slamming the emergency rule on the state.
Addressing journalists recently, the state chairman of CAN, Rev. Yakubu Pam, said the association was happy with the Sole-Administrator, Major-General Chris Alli (rtd).
Pam said: "CAN is obliged to obey constituted authorities and do what is right. Our own position as CAN on the state of emergency is that the constitution should not be broken.
"Whatever they are going to do should be done within the constitution. We are getting closer to the end when the people of Plateau will get back democracy."`
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